Testament: A Celebration of the Life & Art of Frank Frazetta [Hardcover]

Arnie Fenner (Editor), Cathy Fenner (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2001

This final entry in Arnie and Cathy Fenner’s Frazetta trilogy features 150 full-color paintings by the renowned artist and illustrator, ranging in subject matter from barbarian battles to erotica to religious art. Frank Frazetta’s 50-year career is celebrated not only in these museum-quality reproductions of his art but also in photos from his personal archives, including shots of George Lucas visiting the Frazetta estate and Bo Derek posing for one of his alluring femme fatales. Comments and anecdotes by the artist and the editors, along with testimonials from graphic-art luminaries Dave Stevens, Bruce Timm, and Bernie Wrightson, flesh out this portrait of the artist.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Underwood Books (November 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887424628
• ISBN-13: 978-1887424622
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Odds & Ends Collection, "Icon" & "Legacy" Better to Start, January 14, 2002

By 

Bryan E. Leed "Jesus says, 'Go and Sin No More!" (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Testament: A Celebration of the Life & Art of Frank Frazetta (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book, but the more famous Frazetta works are to be found in the two previous books of this trilogy. So this book is great for serious Frazetta fans, but "Icon" and "Legacy" are better books for showing the most famous of his works.

This book, "Testament," is good for showing more of his unpublished stuff. It has many Playboy-type girlie paintings and drawings, some western themes, and his paintings for TV Guide, for the "Battlestar Galactica" show, (which look nothing like the actual TV program, but stand as terrific space fantasy works). The personal photos are also a very nice insight into his life.

All three books in this trilogy cover work from his whole life, and explain his career moves, with slight variations and different guest commentary. The printing is nicely done, so you can enjoy studying the paintings on glossy, quality paper. These three books are very nice additions to your personal bookshelf library.

If you're new to Frazetta's work, I would just suggest that you start in order, with "Icon," and then "Legacy," where the more popular works are printed, to be able to appreciate and understand Frazetta's work and influence in proper perspective. "Testament" is more for the confirmed Frazetta fans.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this was not the last volume, October 25, 2001

By 

Richard A. Tucker "Tucker at large" (Pembroke Pines, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Testament: A Celebration of the Life & Art of Frank Frazetta (Hardcover)

Cathy and Arnie Fenner have done a marvelous thing. They considered the longtime followers of Frank Frazetta's art and gave them a gift of rareties. This last volume has more of Frank's obscure work than either of the previous books in this series. Obscure does not mean "bad" or "unworthy". Obscure in this case means more creative range and less commercial recognition. Page 107 is a perfect example of what I mean. I can't even describe the plate other than to say it's a fantastic horror composition without a monster in sight. From western to horror, erotic to fantastic, this volume is the best of the three. The commentaries from the various artists is also a nice touch and shows the respect that Frank and his work has established. I'm particularly fond of the words written by Michael Kaluta. All the comments and essays complete the image of Frank, his career, his art, influence and friendship. My pet pieces are on pages 40 (Warrior of Llarn), 45, 73 (it boggles the mind that he repainted this and refers to the original, as it's presented, as a piece of crap!), 105, 107 and 114. Frank Frazetta has rendered images from a rich pallet of differing themes and subjects. For his critics who are fond of lambasting Frank as a painter of fat women and barbarians, this volume should put the final nail in their coffin full of misinfomation. The burial of such rampant subjectivity should give rise to his critics' giving in and taking pleasure from the vital work of this artist.
I wonder if a fourth volume is possible?
One last thing. The selection for the cover art was not a standout choice, but the selection for the art used on the endpapers was marvelous.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20th century genius, August 20, 2003

By 

n0s4a2 (Burbank, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Testament: A Celebration of the Life & Art of Frank Frazetta (Hardcover)

Only Norman Rockwell is in the same league with Frank Frazetta. He is the most talented fantasy illustrator of his generation, no one else comes close. His work easily qualitfies as Fine Art. His draftsmanship is so good it seems beyond human, like Michaelangelo. His sense of drama is so assured, each image is like something out of a classic movie or great legend. But everyone falls all over themselves praising Frazetta. This is the third book of his work, and is more for hardcore fans and collectors. Icon and Legacy contain his most famous works, but I love this one for the insights it gives into his techniques, and for the many sensitive and exquisite watercolor nudes he gave his wife on birthdays and anniversaries. I've seen the guy in person twice in my life, but I never said a word to him. Still, Frazetta has made me a better artist.